Data base of cell survival experiments for testing the Local Effect Model

One important rationale for tumor therapy with carbon ions is the enhanced relative biological effectiveness (RBE) compared to conventional photon therapy. As the RBE depends on many factors such as the LET distribution in a given depth in tissue, the delivered dose and the radiosensitivity of the cells or tissues under investigation, it can not be investigated experimentally for all relevant parameters. Thus, biophysical models such as the Local Effect Model (LEM) have been set up in order to simulate the RBE. The LEM was developed at GSI, has been refined over the years and has been applied at different ion beam facilities [1]. For validating the LEM, a widespread comparison with experimental data is necessary. For this purpose a data base of in-vitro cell survival experiments with both ions and photon radiation has been set up. A software has been developed which allows to perform LEM simulations on that data base. The data base is designed such that new data can be added easily and it can be used with other RBE models with minor effort.